Timber connectors

Abstract

A timber connector (10) is disclosed comprising a pair of spikes (11 and 14) disposed at the ends of a cranked stem portion (12/13). The spikes (11 and 14) may be positioned in vertical planes (17 and 18) extending angularly to one another such that the connector (10) may be used for interconnecting respective face of adjacent timber members (15 and 16) which are perpendicular to one another. The spikes (11 and 14) form acute angles with the portions of the stem (13/13) adjacent thereto and the secondary spike (14) tapers away from the axis of the primary spike (11) towards its outer end (25) whereby the timber members (15 and 16) are drawn together during rotation of the stem portion (12/13) about the driven primary spike (11) as the secondary spike (14) is driven home.

I claim: 
     
       1. A unitary connector of a type suitable for connecting together abutting timber components of a wall frame or cross-over junction, said unitary connector having a cranked stem forming opposed straight stem portions extending away from a crank or bend, each said stem portion extending to and adjoining a respective one of two terminating spikes, each said terminating spike having a respective centreline and being adapted to penetrate a respective one of adjacent orthogonal side faces of abutting components, characterized in that: each said stem portion includes a centreline which is contained in a common plane which also contains said centreline of one said spike, which constitutes an anchoring spike, and   said centreline of the other said spike lies in a second plane which contains said centreline of said stem portion adjoining said other spike, and said second plane forming an included acute angle with said common plane whereby said other spike is inclined towards said anchoring spike, and   said centreline of said other spike forms an included acute angle with said centreline of the adjoining said stem portion.   
     
     
       2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said included acute angle between said centreline of said other spike and said centreline of the adjoining said stem portion is in a range of 60 to 85 degrees. 
     
     
       3. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said centreline of said anchoring spike forms an included acute angle with said centreline of the adjoining said stem portion in a range of 70 to 85 degrees. 
     
     
       4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cranked stem is so cranked that said stem portions form an included obtuse angle with respect to each other and being coplanar with said common plane. 
     
     
       5. A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the obtuse angle is in the range of 115 and 155 degrees. 
     
     
       6. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said common plane and a further plane containing said centreline of the other spike and the end of the anchoring spike remote from the adjoining stem portion form an included obtuse angle in a range of 98 to 102 degrees. 
     
     
       7. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the outer end of said other spike to a junction of said anchoring spike with said stem is greater than the distance between the respective Junctions of said other and anchoring spikes with said stem. 
     
     
       8. A connector according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said spikes is formed with a chisel shape sharpened end portion in which a bevel is formed on a face portion. 
     
     
       9. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said stem and said spikes are bent from a length of wire and wherein said stem is resilient whereby it will deflect resiliently with respect to the adjoining spike when the latter is driven substantially perpendicularly into the side face of a timber member. 
     
     
       10. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the faces of said stem adjoining the spikes are planar. 
     
     
       11. A connector assembly comprising a complementary pair of connectors as claimed in claim 1 and each said connector being a mirror image of the other said connector, and wherein the ends of the spikes of one said connector are separated by a distance greater than the ends of the spikes of the other said connector.